Regeneration champion
awarded honorary degree

A man who helped bring jobs and prosperity as part of the regeneration of Hastings and Bexhill has received an honorary masters degree.

John Shaw, a land economist and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, was awarded a Master of Laws from the University of Brighton.

Mr Shaw set up Sea Space, the company which delivered the economic regeneration plan for Hastings and Bexhill.

He worked closely with the University of Brighton to establish the delivery of higher education in East Sussex, securing initially the development of what was a multi-university campus.

Sea Space was also instrumental in attracting companies to the area, most notably Saga, and helped retain existing firms, creating and protecting local jobs.

He said: “It has been a privilege to share with the University of Brighton the journey to create the Hastings campus.”

And speaking to graduates at last Friday’s ceremony (July 31) he said: “You should be aware that your university is equipping young people in East Sussex to share your privilege of a university education through the successful sponsorship of Hastings and St Leonards academies.”

He said the honorary degree “has to be recognition for the hard work from my colleagues past and present – particularly the staff at Sea Change Sussex, its chair, Vice-Chancellor (Professor) Julian Crampton, and the board.”